The Gray Wolf Throne (31 page)

Dancer extended his hand. “Could i take a look?” Bird nodded, and Dancer lifted the amulet, cradling it between his hands, turning it to catch the torchlight. “This is an old piece,” he said finally. “Though made since the Breaking.

nearly all the flash has been discharged. it’s seen recent use.” He looked up. “i’d guess that somebody’s been seen using this, if we ask around.”

“who should we ask?” nightwalker said. “The wizard Council? why would they tell us the truth?”

“we will ask the flashcrafters at Demonai Camp,” Averill said.

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“perhaps someone remembers renewing the amulet in the past.” Han took the flashpiece from Dancer and weighed it on his palm. “it’s hard to believe that a wizard would drop his amulet without noticing,” he said, frowning. “or leave it lay if he did.” He met Bird’s eyes, and she looked down at her hands, embarrassed to be accusing wizards of a crime in his presence.

“if Queen Marianna ripped it off her attacker, and it fell into the garden below, maybe he couldn’t retrieve it right then,” elena said, taking the amulet from Han. “Maybe someone was down there.”

raisa shook her head. “Averill said that nobody saw the queen fall, or found her until Magret missed her.”

“it may not be positive proof,” nightwalker said, “but it supports what i’ve said all along—we should not be allying ourselves with wizards to fight wizards who may be implicated in Queen Marianna’s death. it puts them in a difficult position—acting against their own kind.” Several of the young Demonai warriors nodded in agreement.

“what do you suggest, nightwalker?” elena said, leaning forward.

nightwalker looked around the circle as if searching out allies. “i suggest that we send a small band of Demonai into Fellsmarch tomorrow. Some of us are familiar with the city now, and Lightfoot can easily gain us access to the palace. we seize the princess Mellony and carry her back to Demonai Camp. once we have control of both princesses, the wizard Council would have no option but to give in.”

“is that what you think?” raisa said, her voice cold and brittle as river ice. “That you have control of
this
princess now? i am 266

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not a game piece or a strategic castle you are trying to breach.” That’s where you’re wrong, Han thought. nightwalker thinks every girlie is a castle to be breached. Best to keep your drawbridge up.

But maybe she knew that already, since the princess heir had fostered at Demonai Camp. Han studied the two of them, wondering just how well they knew each other. Jealousy flamed within him. He knew what nightwalker wanted—he could see it in his face.

with some effort, Han wrenched himself back to what elena was saying.

“nightwalker could have phrased that more appropriately, granddaughter, but do not be too quick to dismiss his sugges-tion,” elena said. “it would put an end to any plan to crown Mellony in your place. And it would minimize the danger to you.”

“i’ve already lost my mother,” raisa said. “i will not risk losing my sister as well. you should understand this, elena
Cennestre
.

Must i remind you that Mellony is your granddaughter, too. i will not be a party to any kidnapping. i have to think that we can come up with a better plan.”

nightwalker shrugged as if it didn’t matter either way to him, but Han could tell his pride was wounded.

Much as Han hated to admit it, he agreed with nightwalker about one thing—the time had come to quit sneaking around and do something dramatic.

everyone had an idea of how to manage the memorial service. Lord Averill suggested that raisa arrive at the funeral buried in the midst of a crew of Demonai warriors, display herself, and 267

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then return to Marisa pines when the service was over. elena offered powerful talismans that might protect the princess from magical attack by the wizard Council. everyone agreed that the element of surprise was key, that the safest thing was to whisk her in and out before the wizard Council could organize some sort of attack.

Han was happy to let everyone else talk while he and Dancer examined Corporal Byrne’s sketchy map of the burial area. He wanted to discuss all this with Dancer and come up with his own plan. But all of a sudden he heard his name and looked up to find everybody staring at them.

“what?” he said, aggravated to be caught napping.

“we’ve run through all our ideas,” nightwalker said. “And we wondered what the charmcasters had to offer.” The Demonai warrior looked from Han to Dancer, his expression alert and interested, but Han guessed that nightwalker’s expectations were low.

Han shrugged. “i don’t think much of what you’ve come up with so far,” he said.

elena’s lips tightened. “i see. well, then. perhaps you can tell us what
you
suggest.”

Han glanced at Dancer. “Me and Fire Dancer need to talk it over,” he said. “we’ll tell you what we come up with tomorrow.

But if the princess raisa is Queen of the realm, then everybody, including her, ought to start acting like it.”

“what do you mean?” raisa said, sitting up very straight, her green eyes fixed on him in that unnerving way she had.

The problem wasn’t raisa, Han thought, recalling how she’d walked into Southbridge Guardhouse like a lioness to face off 268

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with Gillen. She was fearless. Too fearless, sometimes.

“i’m just a streetlord,” Han said. “or used to be. But you don’t get to be streetlord by hiding in your crib.”

“we understand that,” Averill said, his voice edged. “But there has already been one likely regicide, and at least one attempt on the princess heir. There is a very real danger that—”

“i
get
that,” Han said. “Believe me. But, say i’m streetlord of ragmarket. even in Southbridge, i don’t
sneak
around hoping nobody notices. no, i strut in like i own the place. i walk right down the way. i have my raggers with me—i’m not stupid—but the point is, my enemies should be worrying about themselves and what’ll happen if they get in my way. They should be wondering about my plans and what i know and who i got on my side.

“The princess raisa? This
is
her turf. They’re the trespassers.

if she comes off like she’s scared of them, it’s over. She’s got to go back to Fellsmarch. She’s got to move back into the old neighborhood and clean out the riffraff rivals. Long as she’s up here, she’s out of power.”

“we’re not really asking for political advice,” elena said, her black eyes narrowed. “we were more interested in what you had to offer in terms of charmcasting.”

raisa surged to her feet, looking around at the others. “He’s right, though. i cannot rule from here. The longer i stay hidden, the more time my enemies have to dig in. we’ll never dislodge them if we wait.”

Averill rolled his eyes. “He’s telling you to do what you’ve wanted to do all along,” he said. “That doesn’t make it the right thing to do.”

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“we cannot afford to lose you, granddaughter,” elena said. “if the jinxflingers kill you too, the line will be broken.”

“Then we make sure that doesn’t happen,” raisa said, looking around the room.

“The Demonai will do our part,” nightwalker said. “But it’s going to be more difficult for us to protect you in the city. Hunts Alone has no real stake in this. we do. we haven’t seen anything from the jinxflingers to suggest they’ll contribute at all.”

“Dancer and i will meet with you tomorrow, your Highness,” Han said to raisa, using the formal title on purpose. “Just the three of us. i’ll tell you what we have in mind, and you say yes or no. you’re the princess, so it’s your call. what you need is some firepower—enough to scare off the wizard Council so they leave you alone for a while, anyway. what you want is to make show.

we can help with that.”

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lucius and

Alger

Han asked Dancer to walk back with him to the visitors’ lodge.

when they emerged from the Matriarch Lodge, powdery snow swirled around their feet in little devil dances, and Han’s nose crackled in the icy air. even in spring, it was still plenty cold at this altitude once the sun went down.

The visitors’ lodge was nestled in the pines a short distance from the rest of the camp. Han and Dancer were single-filing it on the path when Han heard a step behind them.

whirling, he gripped his amulet and extended his hand, his fingers tingling with flash.

“it’s just me, Hunts Alone,” Bird said, raising her hands and backing away, eyes wide.

Han lowered his charmcasting hand. “you can’t ambush me like that anymore,” he said. “not a good idea.”

“i can see that.” Bird attempted a smile. “you’ve never been easy to sneak up on, but now you’re jumpy as a fells hare.” 271

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“That’s how i stay alive,” Han said. After an awkward pause, he said, “Did you want something?”

Bird glanced over her shoulder to verify that no one was within hearing distance. “i heard you were hurt, saving the queen’s life,” she said. “i wanted to see if you were all right.”

“i’ve been better,” Han said. “But i’m all right.”

“Good,” she said, glancing at Dancer, whose face offered no clues as to what he was thinking. “i’m glad to hear that.” She paused, scuffing at some leaves with her moccasin. when Han said nothing, she continued. “i’m off duty tonight. Could we—

could i share your hearth? i would like to talk to both of you.”

“Did nightwalker send you here?” Dancer asked. “was there something he wanted you to tell us? or something he wanted you to find out?”

Bird blinked at him. “no. i came on my own. why would you—”

“we have plans,” Han said. “Jinxflinger business. Sorry.” They circled around her and walked on. Han resisted looking back. He wasn’t proud of what he’d said to Bird. it felt petty and mean. But he did have other plans—plans he couldn’t share with her. And it
was
jinxflinger business.

Choose sides against a streetlord, and you pay a price.

The visitors’ lodge was deserted. The other guests, like Averill, would be plotting long into the night. Han led Dancer into his room and shut the door.

Dancer rekindled the fire and laid on another stick of wood.

“i’m glad to be back in the mountains,” he said, shedding his warm coat. “it’s good to be back at my mother’s hearth.” Sitting down on the rug, he leaned his back against the hearthstone.

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Han eyed him curiously. “you seem different. Like you’re easier with being a wizard here in camp.”

Dancer shrugged. “My time in the flatlands opened my eyes.

Here, people mistrust us for being wizards. everywhere else, people mistrust me for being clan.” He smiled at Han’s puzzled expression. “it’s taught me that the flaw is in them. not me.

when i first found out i was gifted, i felt ashamed, like it was a fault or a curse. i’d been taught all my life that it was. i would have done most anything to get rid of it. i wanted to kill my wizard father for inflicting it on me.” He half smiled.

“But what i’ve come to realize is, it’s not a curse. it is a gift.

Like my mother’s gift for healing. i can do things that others can’t do. i refuse to apologize for it anymore.”

Han found himself wishing he had the same clear-eyed view.

Lately it seemed like all he did was react to others and their plans.

He’d never get anywhere if he didn’t know what he wanted and where he wanted to go.

“Like i said, it’s good to be here,” Dancer went on, “but i would have liked to stay longer at the academy. i was making progress with Firesmith. i think he was flattered to have someone who was actually interested in metalcraft and flash. He gave me some of his rare books to bring along.” Dancer paused. “But you didn’t bring me back here to talk about my plans.”

“well, in a way i did. partly. i’m trying to figure out what weapons we have going into this.”

Dancer nodded. “i can add more flash capability to the amulet i made for you now, if you want,” he said. “Still won’t be as powerful as the one i’m using. elena’s. or the one you took from the Bayars.”

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“no rush,” Han said, touching his replica amulet. it brightened fractionally. “i’m not really using this anyway, except for show.” He paused. “you don’t have to keep using my old amulet, you know,” he said. “you could have another one made specifically for you.”

Dancer stroked the amulet elena had made for Han—the one he’d been using since he lost his in Arden. “i’m used to it now.

And it’s loaded with power. no reason to make a change.” Han understood. once linked with an amulet, it was painful to give it up.

“i have friends at Demonai Camp,” Dancer went on. “not warriors. Craftspeople. Depending on what happens with the coronation, i’d like to go over there if i can be spared.”

“isn’t that dangerous, going to Demonai Camp?” Han said.

“As a wizard?”

“everything is dangerous,” Dancer said, shrugging. “Though it will be easier if you can keep elena and nightwalker away.” Han nodded. “i’ll do my best to keep them busy keeping an eye on me.” He paused. “i asked you to come because i have a confession to make—i met with Crow again, on my way here.” Swiveling away from Dancer’s incredulous expression, Han filled a teapot from the water jug and set it on the hearth.

“you’re not serious,” Dancer said finally. “you do have a death wish, i believe.”

“everything is dangerous,” Han said, cocking an eyebrow at Dancer. He sat down on the edge of his sleeping bench and pulled off his boots. “But i need your advice.”